The overall number of pregnant women smoking at delivery continues to decline across England, new NHS Digital data shows.
The number dipped below 5% in the first quarter of 2025/26, continuing the drop from last year’s historic low of 6%.
Lambeth, together with Wandsworth, records the lowest levels of tobacco use during pregnancy, with less than 1% – five times lower than the national average.
The borough recorded just five women smoking out of 555 maternities with a known smoking status, a record low following the national trend.
The figures don’t capture how difficult it can be for women to stop smoking during pregnancy, however.
A spokesperson for the Tobacco Dependence Treatment Service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in Lambeth explained: “Stopping smoking in pregnancy is particularly difficult because during pregnancy the body metabolises nicotine faster.
“Nicotine is the addictive part of the cigarette so most women will feel the desire to smoke more than they usually would whilst pregnant.”
They explained the risks of tobacco use during pregnancy, stating that it reduces the amount of oxygen being delivered to the baby.
That, in turn, affects their growth and development and the toxins of a cigarette pass through to the baby.
However, if smoking is stopped at any point during pregnancy, the baby will benefit.
The spokesperson said women know about the dangers of tobacco use during pregnancy by now.
They added: “But we find they are less aware that nicotine replacement therapy and vaping pose only a fraction of the risk of smoking and can increase chances of quitting significantly.”
London has one of the lowest rates of smoking in pregnancy in England, with just 530 women recorded as smokers at delivery out of 19,080 maternities with a known smoking status.
In contrast, the East Midlands reports the highest proportion, with 6.5% of women – 640 out of 9,875 pregnancies – smoking at the time of delivery.
Most people start smoking to cope with stress.
Olivia, 38, was a heavy smoker until she turned pregnant with her first child.
She said: “It was like a switch flipped in my head when I got to know I was pregnant.
“I didn’t smoke a single cigarette after that pregnancy test.”
She said she did not suffer from any withdrawal symptoms after breaking the habit.
After her baby was delivered, she didn’t pick up smoking again right away – also because her son was born with a cleft lip.
As she was constantly handling her baby’s mouth, she didn’t want to start again.
Olivia explained: “I’m not sure if you know this, but when you smoke, your hands constantly smell like cigarettes, even if you scrub them or disinfect them.
“I didn’t even think about smoking or missed it very much, to be honest, even when we were going out with friends in the evening.”
Olivia only relapsed six months ago, mostly due to stress, and now smokes between two and ten cigarettes a day.
She added: “I know it’s not healthy, and I wish I could change it, but it helps me cope.”
Annmarie, 48, did not stop smoking when she learned she was pregnant with her son.
She said: “I was a very heavy smoker, and my gynaecologist told me to reduce smoking to two cigarettes per day.”
Annmarie explained that she smoked up to 10-12 cigarettes per day before she got pregnant, which she has now returned to, and her doctor thought if she suddenly stopped it could have had negative effects on the unborn baby.
During pregnancy, she only had one cigarette in the morning and one in the evening before going to bed.
Annmarie said: “The most important cigarette for me was the one right after waking up.
“Of course, I had the desire to smoke more after, but then you keep thinking about the baby and it’s bearable.”
Between 2006/2007 and 2024/2025, the number of women known to be smokers at time of delivery has gone down drastically from 90,887 to 31,670.
The NHS expects numbers to continue to decline and stay at 4.1% for the whole of 2025/2026.
The Tobacco Dependence Treatment Service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in Lambeth supports pregnant women with different treatments.
The spokesperson added: “We offer NICE-approved treatment options for people who are pregnant and smoke.
“This includes combination nicotine replacement therapy – this means two types of NRT, usually patches plus an oral product, or a nicotine-containing vape, alongside behavioural support therapy.”
During this therapy, patients work with a specialist to understand their smoking patterns, recognise triggers, and plan ways to resist the urge to smoke.
If you are a smoker living in Lambeth and want to quit, please call 0800 856 3409.
Featured image: Photo by Andres Siimon on Unsplash
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